By Owen Quinn author Photos copyright BBC/Disney
I have had a week to think about the last two episodes of this show. I have to admit, I still have questions. We have met the Sea Devils in the past and the future and never have they ever shown the power they did last week. If the Sea Devils, I refuse to use Homo Aqua, are that powerful to clean the oceans as they did, why are they engaged in talks with humanity? With that power, they could just conquer and trap humans on land til they died. But this sudden superpower is too convenient somehow. If Sea Devils had such power, this would all have started and ended with the third Doctor. But that aside, let’s look at episode 3 where Barclay faces the Sea Devils on their own turf; the bottom of the ocean.
Just for the record, any Sea Devils out there thinking of appointing me as their ambassador, forget it. Being ever so slightly claustrophobic, there is not a chance in hell of me going dowwn in that metal ball diving bell. Nope, sorry, drop twenty foot of plastic if you want, Quinn ain’t going down.
This week I felt the narrative was a little slow. A team is assembled to go with Barclay to the ocean floor. I understand the need of giving every character some sort of tiny background so the audience can hopefully identify with them. But I felt some it was very pedestrian, cliched. One hasn’t spoken to her brother in twenty years so is going to phone him when this is all over. Good luck with that. They don’t come across as agents that should be better equipped to deal with this mentally. Barclay is better equipped than they are and this is probably the highlight of this episode for me. When Barclay’s daughter berates him and he breaks down following his failure last week, it is a real reaction. The eyes of the world are upon him against this formidable enemy and he is a loser in their eyes. Just as Turlough and especially Mickey Smith were seen as not the bravest or someone you could count on, now Barclay is in that position.
His breakdown in the arms of his ex wife is very human. Indeed, to help one of the team, an Australian older man, Ted Campbell, cope with panic attacks on the way down, Barclay steps up where none of the rest of them have. He is terrified but refuses to let that bring the rest of them down. Ravi especially seems very ill equipped to be part of this mission which, let’s face it, is the only thing standing between humanity and annihilation.
The scenes between Salt and Barclay also shine when they are alone and speak candidly. He feels like he has known Salt forever and she says the tides have brought them together. But why? Is barclay going to create a whole new meaning for sushi? Can humans and Sea Devils actually do the deed? Do they have the parts? Fish sex? Come on, prove me wrong please! The Sea Devil city is beautifully done with the legion of Sea Devils ready for an audience with the human delegation.
This is where I feel former companions should really have been included here. Russell Tovey is doing a great job as everyman Barclay but Tegan, Ace, Mel, Martha or even Donna would have been welcome here. Tegan has fought tthe Sea Devils before in the future where they tried, along with the Silurians, to trigger a war that would wipe out humanity. That’s where I feel this story is lacking.
On the flipside, Kate Stewart is facing hostile opposition which ends in tragedy for her. It is wonderful to see just how she copes with running UNIT and you can feel her father, the Brigadier, very strongly here. She is taking his and the Doctor’s place in protecting humanity but it is taking its toll. UNIT no longer has the punch it once had as she faces a hostile meeting in which corporations rule and foreign states and her own Prime Minister are working against her. They are prepared to launch war on the Sea Devils using all sorts of weaponry. Kate is little more than a nuisance, standing in their way.
But while this is a bit slow, the final twist makes us sit up again. Someone tries to assassinate Kate but her love, Christofer is killed instead. She is helpless to save him as he dies on the floor of her home while at the bottom of the ocean, Ted reveals himself to be an assassin and tries to hand Salt a bomb which detonates.
Overall, I am loving the exploration of Barclay and Kate right now while the mystery of his connection to Salt deepens. However, these 45 minutes felt like a pause with a lot of padding and lame characterisation.
The Time Warriors and Beyond 